Entering the UK

Skip to contents of guide

Quarantining when you arrive in the UK

If you’re travelling to England you must:

  • take 2 coronavirus (COVID-19) tests after you arrive in England - you’ll need to book these before you travel
  • either quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days when you arrive in England

What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive in England.

If you travel in or through a country on the banned travel list (sometimes called the ‘red list’) in those 10 days you will need to quarantine in a managed quarantine hotel. If you do not travel in or through a country on the banned travel list in those 10 days you will need to quarantine in the place you’re staying.

Find out which countries are on the banned travel list.

If you’ll travel in or through a country on the banned travel list, find out how to book a managed quarantine hotel and your coronavirus tests.

If you will not travel in or through a country on the banned travel list, find out how to quarantine in the place you’re staying and book your coronavirus tests.

Find out what to do if you’re:

You may be fined if you do not quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel when you need to. You can be prosecuted if you do not pay on time.

The government will use the details you provide in your passenger locator form to check you’re quarantining in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel.

Print entire guide

Part of Travel abroad: step by step

  1. Step 1 Plan your trip during coronavirus (COVID-19)

    1. Check the latest coronavirus travel restrictions
    2. Check if you need a negative test result to enter your destination or if you need to quarantine upon arrival
    3. Get a coronavirus test through a private provider in the UK, if you need one
    4. Check what you need to do when travelling abroad if you are disabled

  2. Step 2 Get your passport ready

    You need to have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to many countries. Check entry requirements for the country you want to travel to.

    1. Check your passport has enough time left on it for the country you're visiting
    2. Renew or replace your passport
    3. Get a passport for your child

  3. and Check if you need a visa or permit

    1. Check if you need a visa or permit

  4. and Check if you need a permit to drive abroad

    1. Check if you need an international driving permit

  5. and Check how to take your pet abroad

    1. Check what you need to do to take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

  6. Step 3 Get travel insurance and check if you need vaccinations or inoculations

    1. Get travel insurance
    2. Check what vaccinations or inoculations you may need

  7. Step 4 Travel safely and check for travel disruption

    1. Find out how to travel safely in the UK during coronavirus
    2. Check guidance for safer air travel during coronavirus
    3. Check if there are travel disruptions because of coronavirus

  8. Step 5 Going through border control

    You may need to show paperwork such as your passport or visa, or a negative coronavirus test result at the point of entry.

    1. Check the entry requirements for the country you are travelling to or transiting through

  9. Step 6 When you are abroad

    1. Follow the local coronavirus restrictions
    2. Access healthcare in the EU

  10. and If you are unable to return to the UK

    1. If you are unable to return to the UK because of coronavirus

  11. Step 7 Return to the UK

    1. Check if the country you are travelling from is on the banned list due to coronavirus
    2. How to quarantine when you arrive in England
    3. Booking and staying in a quarantine hotel when you arrive in England
    4. Book a private test before you return to the UK
    5. Book a coronavirus test to reduce your quarantine period
    6. Complete a passenger locator form
    7. Follow the rules for entering the UK
    8. Check if you want to bring goods into the UK

  12. and When you arrive in the UK

    1. Follow the latest coronavirus restrictions
    2. Declare goods and pay tax and duty to UK customs